Colocasia plant named ‘Imperial Gigante’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Colocasia  plant named ‘Imperial Gigante’, that is characterized by its large leaves that are light green and suffused with black between bright yellow-green veins, its leaves that are held horizontal to the petioles, its large tubers when mature, and its small tuberous rhizomes that are produced at the base of mature plants.

Botanical classification: Colocasia hybrid.

Cultivar designation: ‘Imperial Gigante’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, Colocasia ‘Imperial Gigante’, relates to a newand distinct interspecific hybrid of Colocasia, hereinafter referred toby its cultivar name, ‘Imperial Gigante’. ‘Imperial Gigante’ is a newtropical plant used as a landscape and container plant in tropical andsubtropical areas.

The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding programconducted by the Inventor at his nursery in Louisville, Ky. The overallpurpose of the breeding program is to make selections of Colocasiaplants that are unique with large leaves and vigorous growth habits.‘Imperial Gigante’ arose from a cross made in June of 2010 between anunnamed plant of a Colocasia of hybrid origin from the Inventor'sbreeding program as the female parent and an unnamed plant of Colocasiagigantea as the male parent. ‘Imperial Gigante’ was selected as a singleunique plant in June of 2012 from amongst the seedlings derived from theabove cross.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by invitro propagation under the direction of the Inventor in Eustis, Fla. inJuly of 2012. Asexual propagation by in vitro propagation has shown thatthe characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Imperial Gigante’ as a new and unique cultivar ofColocasia.

-   -   1. ‘Imperial Gigante’ exhibits large leaves.    -   2. ‘Imperial Gigante’ exhibits leaves that are light green and        suffused with black between bright yellow-green veins.    -   3. ‘Imperial Gigante’ exhibits leaves that are held horizontal        to the petioles.    -   4. ‘Imperial Gigante’ exhibits large tubers when mature.    -   5. ‘Imperial Gigante’ exhibits small tuberous rhizomes at the        base of mature plants.

The female parent of ‘Imperial Gigante’, an unnamed plant of Colocasiaof hybrid origin, differs from ‘Imperial Gigante’ in having smallerleaves that are held vertically and solid black in color with blackveins. The male parent of ‘Imperial Gigante’, an unnamed plant ofColocasia gigantea, differs from ‘Imperial Gigante’ in having leavesthat are green with green veins and in lacking tuberous rhizomes.‘Imperial Gigante’ can be most closely compared to the Colocasiaesculenta cultivars ‘Black Magic’ (not patented) and ‘Mojito’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 21,995). Both are similar to ‘Imperial Gigante’ in havinglarge leaves that have dark coloration. ‘Black Magic’ differs from‘Imperial Gigante’ in being shorter in height, in having leaves that aresolid black in color and rarely producing tubers. ‘Mojito’ differs from‘Imperial Gigante’ in being shorter in height and in having leaves thatare variegated (green with black mottling), in lacking yellow-greenveins, and in rarely producing tubers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Colocasia, ‘Imperial Gigante’.The photographs were taken of plants about 2 years in age as grownoutdoors under 6 mm poly and natural lighting in Louisville, Ky. andplanted in a trial garden.

FIG. 1 provides an overall view of the mature foliage and plant habit of‘Imperial Gigante’ in spring.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a spring leaf of‘Imperial Gigante’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of a summer leaf of‘Imperial Gigante’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized and the color values citedin the Detailed Botanical Description accurately describe the colors ofthe new Colocasia.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of three year-old plants of thenew cultivar as grown outdoors in full sun under 2 mm poly greenhouseplastic in Louisville, Ky. The phenotype of the new cultivar may varywith variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, asit has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. Thecolor determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chartof The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except wheregeneral color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Plant type.—Tropical perennial.        -   Plant habit.—Upright, stemless.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches 1.8 to 2.1 m (6 to 7 ft) in            height and 1.2 to 2.1 m (4 to 7 ft) in width.        -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 7.        -   Diseases and pests.—No particular resistance or            susceptibility has been shown to diseases and pests.        -   Roots.—Fleshy, produced in a compact mass, NN155B in color.        -   Root development.—Tissue culture plugs will fully root in a            one-gallon container in 2 to 3 months with sufficient heat            and sun.        -   Corm.—Rounded, an average of 6.9 cm in diameter, NN155B in            color.        -   Propagation type.—In vitro propagation is preferred.        -   Growth rate.—Vigorous.        -   Stem description.—Stemless, can produce tubers an average of            6.9 cm in diameter at base after one year of growth.        -   Rhizomes.—Form around base of plant, emerge from with scales            178A in color, about 2 cm in diameter when they emerge            before they elongate.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Ovate-slightly oblong.        -   Leaf division.—Single.        -   Leaf base.—Cordate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute, slightly cuspidate.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color in spring; upper surface 144A,            lower surface 145C, color in summer upper surface 149C,            lower surface 145B.        -   Leaf margins.—Undulate.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper surface and lower surface; glabrous,            almost velvety.        -   Leaf orientation.—Held horizontal.        -   Leaf color.—Spring foliage upper surface; 147A, blending            into 143B towards margins, with a flush of 202A between            veins, spring foliage lower surface; 137C and lightly            suffused between the veins with N187A, summer foliage upper            surface; 147A and suffused with 202A between veins, summer            foliage lower surface; 147B and slightly suffused with 202A.        -   Leaf size.—Up to 91.44 cm in length and 61 cm in width.        -   Leaf sinus.—An average of 14 cm in depth on a mature leaf.        -   Petioles.—Held erect to semi-erect, about 1.83 m in length            and 2.54 cm in distal diameter and 10.16 cm in proximal            diameter, glaucous surface, 145B in color with fine and            sparse dots of 144B on upper portion and fine and sparse            dots of 166A near the base, basal sheath portion is narrowly            triangular in shape, an average of 10 cm in diameter and 18            cm in length, both surfaces; 145B in color, glabrous and            satiny.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Two to three weeks in mid to late summer in            Louisville, Ky.        -   Inflorescence type.—Spadix surrounded by a spathe, male            portion held above female portion, only female flowers were            developed.        -   Inflorescence size.—Average of 26 cm in length and 7 cm in            width.        -   Inflorescence bud.—Linear to slightly narrow oblanceolate in            shape, glabrous and smooth surface, an average of 16 cm in            length, male portion; 1.9 cm in width, female portion; 2.8            cm in width, male portion; 150D in color and female portion;            144C.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Inflorescence blooms            intermittently during the bloom period, individual flowers            last about 2 to 3 weeks.        -   Inflorescence/flower quantity.—Intermittent throughout the            bloom season, sets of 3 or more, an average of 270 female            flowers per spadix, male flowers were undeveloped.        -   Spathe.—Hooded, bract, subtending spadix, elliptic in shape,            entire margin, acute apex, 19.5 cm in length and 7 cm in            width, inner surface; coriaceous and smooth, outer surface;            coriaceous and textured with linear grooves, lasts 5 to 7            days, color: when opening and fully open on inner and outer            rear surface; 150D.        -   Spadix.—Male portion above female zone, upright cylindrical            shape (phallus-like), apex narrowly pointed, about 9 mm in            diameter (not including ovary) and 12.3 cm in length, male            zone; 9 mm in diameter and 8.4 cm in length, color immature            and mature 149C to 149D, female zone; 1.7 cm in diameter and            3.1 length, color immature and mature 144C to 144D with 149D            at the tips.        -   Peduncle.—Triangular in shape, grows from base of plant, up            to 30.5 cm in length and 5.7 cm in diameter, held at 20°            angle, durable and strong, 144A to 144A in color, glabrous            surface.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—1 pistil, 5 stigmas are 149D in color, ovary is            flattened obovate in shape and 144C to 144D in color.        -   Androcoecium.—Undeveloped.        -   Fruit and seed.—Sterile.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Colocasia plant named‘Imperial Gigante’ as herein illustrated and described.